Bridgewater State awards degrees to 1,172

There were cheers, laughs, hugs and tears as nearly 1,172 students received their bachelor’s degrees at the 172nd commencement at Bridgewater State University on Saturday. The ceremony was held on the Boyden Hall Quadrangle at the school under sunny skies. Thousands of family and friends gathered under a tent to watch the proceedings as hundreds of other spectators watched from outside the tent.

It started with a show-stopping rendition of “America the Beautiful” by Kristen Annese, a communications major and former Bridgewater-Raynham student..

And it wrapped up with a heartfelt message from student speaker Jabril Robinson, a psychology major from Braintree.

“The latest step of our journey begins now,” Robinson said. “So let’s make our present the best past we can so that our future is bright. I know we can do it.”

There were cheers, laughs, hugs and tears as nearly 1,172 students received their bachelor’s degrees at the 172nd commencement at Bridgewater State University on Saturday.

The ceremony was held on the Boyden Hall Quadrangle at the school under sunny skies. Thousands of family and friends gathered under a tent to watch the proceedings as hundreds of other spectators watched from outside the tent.

“I’m excited, but I’m nervous about my future,” said Chantelle Heckbert, an accounting major from Bridgewater. “It has been good here. I met a lot of great people, and I wouldn’t be here without them.”

The message of the day to graduates was to embrace their future.

“There is no greater day in education than commencement,” said one of the main speakers, Sue Szachowicz, BSU board member and former Brockton High School principal. “It’s the day we look into the future and from the view I have here, it’s outstanding.”

The ceremony was the end of a long ride from some graduates.

“I’m really excited, “ said Colby Fisher, a management major from Middleboro. “I’m also glad it’s over. It’s been a long time.”

Erin Shannon may be reached at eshannon@enterprisenews.com or follow on Twitter @Erin_Enterpris